MAIN Home Life Home Legal Guide Elder Law

Unlike juvenile law, elder law is not a legal that is sharply divided from the rest of the law world with its own courts and age specific laws. Rather, elder law is simply a term which encompasses all the various kinds of law that place emphasis on overseeing senior health care, advance directives or living wills that protect the legal rights of senior citizens especially when they are ill or incapacitated.

Broadly, there are three different categories of elder law. The first and probably most obvious is medical care for the elderly. Medicaid in the United States, for example, is government sponsored medical care for an increasingly aging population which was enacted in 1965, the same year that the Older Americans Act was passed.

Estate planning is another broad category of elder law. Estate laws have been enacted to minimize taxes and reduce common probems with regards to the dispensation of an estate, but can also cover things such as power of attorney, which can be very important for elderly people who depend on others to make important decisions for them. The important legal document with regards to estate law is the will. Without a legal will, the legal proceedings following the death of a loved one can be especially difficult.

Related to estate law, the third broad category of elder law is guardianship law. Parents are the guardians of their children, but the elderly may also need guardians to choose a nursing home, for instance, if they are disabled or are otherwise incapable of taking care of themselves, due to either physical or mental limitations.

A guardian may simply be responsible for the financial interests and the general well-being of a person, or property rights, or even legal rights, depending upon the elderly's ability to make decisions for themselves.

More about elder law around the Web:

In general, elder laws are in place to make the best of what is often a painful and difficult situation for most families. They help to minimize suffering, and guide us through some of the most emotionally difficult times that many of us will face throughout our lives. Around the Web find complete information on guardianship, medical decision making, and related issues along with a collection of Internet resources pointing to more on elder law by US state of particular interest to caregivers.

Elder Law - Wikipedia - Complete overview of US law as it pertains to estate planning, Medicaid, guardianship, as well as elder abuse, neglect, and fraud, with an extensive list of related resources.

SeniorLaw: Elder Law & Legal Resources on the Web - Extensive directory of online resources with facts & information on nursing home law, reverse mortgages, long term care insurance, advanced directives & health care proxies, and related topics.

Elder Law Answers - Helpful Q&A covering subjects ranging from Medicare and Medicaid, estate planning and guardianship to nursing home issues and medical decision making.

Robert Clofine's Elder Law and Estate Planning Page - Information on wills and estate planning, the latest tax and social security law changes, nursing homes and asset protection, living trusts, powers of attorney and related issues.

also in Home Legal Advisor -> Inheritance | Social Security

also see -> Estate Planning & Life Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance | Living Wills

The information provided on these pages is intended as reference
only and does not constitute professional legal advice.